You know… I love albums and for the last several years I have only offered my Signature Album. But I have found a new offering from Finao albums which has changed my mind.

I call it the ‘Highlights’ album. It is 8×8 inches and has many creative options for the cover with imprinting on some of the materials that they offer. Composed of up to 30 photographic images (not press printed) on 10 spreads… the highlights of your wedding day make this album a great option for the wedding couple and parents alike. This album beautifully simple and concise.

I had the opportunity to photograph for a ‘non-traditional’ couple. I’ve been hearing this term lately in regards to college students that have not followed the “norm’ in the academic path. This couple is the perfect ‘non traditional’ couple, but not in the collegiate use of the phrase. David is a rocket scientist for NASA. Mary Susan is an excellent, career primary teacher. Both stellar individuals, that by a stroke of divine fate found each other. Perhaps a super nova event. Each moment of this wedding event was delightful to me.

A few years ago, it was commonplace for many potential clients to request a photography package without an album. It was popular to purchase the images on disk or have them included in their package. Actually, it was often the first thing they asked — “Do you include the digital image files?”. Now I am finding that more of my clients are asking specifically for an album in the package, then of course they inquire about the files.

Perhaps some have entertained the notion that wedding albums were ‘old school’ or ‘traditional’. If you are shopping for VALUE in your purchase of wedding photography, I highly recommend you consider the long term value of a beautiful, creatively designed album.

Here is a sample album from a wedding at the Rainbow Ranch in Big Sky. This album was designed with a total of 38 pages, book bound in black lizard pattern leather with gold imprinting.

It’s a rare occasion to photograph a wedding at the Mountain Sky Ranch. They only offer wedding dates in the early spring or late fall because of their exclusive ‘family’ guest ranch clientele during the summer months. Judie contacted me about a year ago and disclosed the amazing story of her life and love. Her own words are below. It is a story of life and love and discernment.

I photographed this wedding on a weekend in October with my talented daughter Jennie Lynn. Many of the images in this album are hers. She continues to make me a proud pappa. Her youthful perspective is full of content, insight and skill.

Click the pic to view the first draft of their wedding album.

Just a few more words about my Canadian friends. You don’t have to be 20 something to be completely in love. Love is no respecter of age. Here is Judie and Marc’s story in Judies own words.

“We met over 40 years ago. Marc and my boyfriend were best friends. When I got married, Marc was our best man, and when Marc was married a few years later, my then husband was his best man. We continued to socialize as couples until Marc’s job took him and his wife to Oakville Ontario from Ottawa, Ontario where we had originally known each other. Over the next few years we managed to keep in touch but as time went by and Marc’s jobs took him and his family to various locations around the country, we lost track of each other. Some thirty years later, after both he and I were divorced, he accepted a job back in Ottawa. He remembered that I had lived there and thought he would see if he could contact me. Fortunately, after my divorce I had returned to my maiden name and he was able to locate my phone number easily. He called one day when I was out and one of my sons took the message. Like most teenagers they never thought to pass on the message. As I was tidying up the papers on the kitchen counter I ran across a note that said “Mom, call Marc”. I inquired as to whether they knew his last name and when he had called. At the time I had no clue who was calling me. In the meantime, Marc had given up all hope that I would return his call as it had been four days since he had called. He was, needless to say, ecstatic when he answered my call, and after spending some time on the phone he asked if we could get together to finish catching up. It did not take long for the both of us to recognise our connection and so began our current love story. We chose to get married in Montana because we had been there once before early in our relationship. It had had such a profound affect on the both of us that decided right then that when we got married, it would have to be in that location. The majesty of the mountains, the crispness in the air, the sound of the water cascading over the rocks in the creek and the majic and spirituality of the place crept into our souls. We finally exchanged our vows in an intimate, emotional and heartfelt way in front of a roaring fire at a guest Ranch near Bozeman. There will be many more trips back to Montana – it gets under your skin! ” Judie Carrigan Grandbois

I just finished a book design for my new friends in Florida. This was a full blown party! I was warned by M’Lissa, Kelsea’s step-mom, that I better be prepared to “throw down”! I thought – what???? I got the gist of her warning but I was not for sure of the scale of the “throw down”!!! WHAT A BLAST!

It was a barn party with a fabulous band from Atlanta, great food and top shelf bar.